The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-13
Ar STANDING ROCK leEvCI.

Ar BANDING ROCK IGENCE
s,,,ss NJ the Distributiea OF Reef Ane,s
the sisux Inaians.
Early on Oct. z, 1885, I was comfortably
esatcd ia On open blackboard. with my knees
upder buffalo robe TO keep out tho cold. and
The thriving town OF Mandan. Dakota, was
RAPIDLY disappearing behind mo. had COM
unenced tho hfty-mile ride southwark to Fort
Yates. on tho Missouri Rivor. whore Is tho
famous Sioux agency known as Standing
Rock Agency Tho agency derives its name
from pyramidal stone about three feet high.
Of which this legend 10 told:
Many years ago there lived q great chief who
bad married ono Of tho most beautiful naidens
In ths.whols Sioux nation. She was good
true and dutiful wife. and loved her bravo with
great devotion. In tho course Of time. how
ever. tho chiefs glance fell upon q maiden
younger and even moro beautiful than his
wife. He therefore married her. too, and
brought her 10 his lodge. The first wife was
yery indignant and while the spirit OF anger
and jealousy was still strong within her she
wandered forth under the stars, accompanied
BY her dog. to ponder over her lords infldolity.
The Great Spirit, angered at her jealousy, at
once manifested his displeasure and his power
By turning her and hor dog into solid stone.
Tho Standing Rock IL tho once jealous wife.
The transformed dog has mystoriously disap-
penred. the Indians say, BY some manifesto
ton Of the Divine will. but thero Is reason to
believe that the stone helps to form the foun-
dation upon which one Of the Government
buildings st the:agoncy now rests.
Late that afternoon wo drew near the agency.
We passed many Indians on foot. or riding
their ponies. Tepees or Indian tents began to
appear In great numbers. Crowds Of Indian
bows. Glad even on this cold day In only cot
ton shirt and deer skin moccasins. were play
ing In the road. Each boy had bundle Of
long darts. which no would throw by resting
tho dart upon the ankle Of one foot held In the
air for that purpose. and then giving the rod a
sudden jerk with his hand. 1t was wonderful
10 what distances and with what accuracy they
would throw those darts. Ny companion told
mo that those villages Of fonts wero only
temporary. and that upon the following Mon
day night the tepees would be pitched far
apart The Indians had collected here now for
their bi-monthly issue Of rations. On the fol-
lowing morning. which happened to be Satur-
day. the cattle would DO killed and tho beef
distributed. and on Monday the other COM
ponsnts Of the ration consisting Of -four. meal.
salt sugar. coffee. and pork. would be issued.
fuI il q interest Y found it. ns 0''' "Au WY
The next morning the oficer at Fort Yates,
'i s: sss dss1s e
4. pe: both dsssa. sSou S1s
ass, III ~ fndtsns Ilvins Sn that sids q the
post repetving their beef thers. Each head Of
Sos &. fnsy Wien we M
sd of
W Sapdssds more: WAITING. IiId IS drlylas
rode bsrebSof. or with only : blanket. Their
ponies .re hardy little beasts, and are said to
snd into America by 6orsez and and BIS followers.
I have frequently seen one Of these tough
psssns ssa lis aSa COM
,5The inspecting and branding Of the cattle
Sssa and AZ the sas as4s
down rom the Sassids b Indis Z, detailed e.
Indians g 81 sgss and both sexes, while from
me On o. Win as
Eagles feathers and like ornaments frequently
ssSs 81 ess
Srsa S1ssiS snEs kSss @
I'VE? sRoSssns Indian s5rosss s1 a tho Wounded
'9las sses thor. in little group,
I'D who hsa 9 ssy
indian traders busy bargaining. for. the hides
NY host pointed out to ne q buck who was,
:.ss bis as COTTON
!! VIZ the akin sad head q large hawk pinned
Fs.s %sn W. ". sIst!ss Ssii; 4%onF sSs White
taticn for dishonestS. cSnnins and tresehery.
Gapl, rival chief, Of whom Sitting Bull Is very
jealous, 10 far more remarkable man. HIS
When introduced to me he looked ne iqli il
the face, and sresped my hand as though he
Tor esu ecps 70 & the ahs
for that reason he - q constant counsellor for
.ss, x sS q shsS
t.. g M ana.4
sn:s Win @sfs IN Hss shs under
%ta aaS aps
~ Zip e JSls: 1857: Dhs - Ns; wearing E very
eoasdsass n ibis s ehlo and hls followers
& sisss Ba p' assertions from
as thess kbiIliFpgs, f the
lqnEs. Who, standing ppon . small hiI l, pro-
selves while the opportunity offered,
% ons
w.s ssatsd on the ground; rocking herself to
soas %srs nsns
her In producing tho most mournful sounds:
n cone near TslatiyTsi or 2 bright and shining
generally kept secret II possible until tho fol-
lowing annual census in order that the SUR |
viving members OF tho family may enjoy the |
rations Of the deceased brother or sister:
number Of indians who are grouped accord |
lngiy. When the shootinR was over the stock
ads gates were opened. and one representa-
I've from each group pushed forward with bis
upon the biggest and latest steer. A surgins
mass Of men and animals were thus soon
cattle were then drawn opt BY the horns and
This work Is done By the squaws. who COM
mencs at once. and IN Q few minutes hun;
dred groups scattered about are busily engaged |
IN an occupation that seems to suit them.